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1. Most academic institutions were never intended to subsidize corporate training costs. While this line sometimes gets blurred these days, one must assume you are learning basic skills 80k other people already have.

2. The primary HR issues I’ve seen is a lack of humility, inexperience, and people entering the field for the wrong reasons. Financial motivations are fine and all... but giving a toss about what you do is important in the long term. There is zero correlation between degree level and productivity… Indeed, some kids get by on social media with an army of Googling friends to try and game through challenges (think of a Borg-cube that assimilated a planet of smug morons.)

3. Some people are cultists, and firmly believe success is bestowed on the truly deserving. In some ways they are partially right for a cog-in-a-machine proprietary process position. However, the range of skills needed grow exponentially as the organization shrinks, and rapidly deprecates people not willing to show any initiative.

4. Your work is likely naive garbage at first, and while management doesn’t know any better... your peers do. Expect to be hazed until one can contribute coherent work. Yes, you will be working on projects that match your skill-set, and if you don’t clue in your career will be a short one.

5. Assume you are the dumbest person in the room, and be pleasantly surprised when you are wrong. Some folks have literally met 80k people just like you, and whatever cleverness you think is original... is often just tedium in another perspective.

6. Your loyalty will not be rewarded. The industry will not suddenly develop integrity, but it is rather a personal boundary you choose after seeing peers exploited.

Good luck. =)




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